Resisting Cultural Myopia

     I have written somewhat extensively about topics related to culture in New Mexico.... which to say the least is diversified.  As an Anglo in Northern New Mexico, I am part of the minority culture.  In Beebe, Beebe, and Redmond we learn that, "Non-Hispanic Whites constitute a minority of the population in Texas, New Mexico, and California."  My children attend St. Michael's High School which is a Catholic school populated primarily by Northern New Mexico Hispanics.  I am an actively involved parent, and volunteer a great deal of time to the school.  This means that I often work with Hispanic families.  I am very familiar with the culture of Northern New Mexico, and how the culture has been dominated by the influx of Non-Hispanic Whites during the 1940's.  For the most part, Northern New Mexico is considered rural, with the capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe, topping out at around 72,000 people.

     I recognize in myself, a tendency to take great care in how I communicate with the Hispanic families of this area.  I am careful to utilize words and phrases that do not seem assumptive or superior in any way.  Large extended families are typical in this area of New Mexico and of the greatest importance- well beyond the pursuit of high-powered careers and the pursuit of wealth.  One way of showing respect in this culture is to ask about the children.  No conversation is complete without inquiring, by name, after the children of the family, as well as asking after the health and well-being of the family elders.  At St. Michael's High School many of the students are athletes and are well supported by their families in their athletic endeavors.  Naturally it is important to comment upon the accomplishments of these athletes... in order to show a genuine interest.  Even though, in our family, sports come second to academics, that is not necessarily the case for all of the families at St. Michael's.

     As a non-Hispanic White, another way of showing respect to this population, which has historically been shown very little respect is to ask, "What do you think?  What do you suggest we do in this situation?  Can you help me with this problem?"  Because the intergenerational ties in this community are so strong, relevant information and wisdom about the area is passed down from one generation to the next.  It is a mistake to cast off this information as irrelevant.  The families I know, work hard to give their children a private education.  They are devout in their ways regarding the Catholic church, and they care immensely about the well being of their children.  However, many of these same families have been consistently shunned, and shown very little respect over the decades by non-Hispanic new comers to the area, and I often am aware of an overall sense of caution and sometimes suspicion between the cultures of the area.   Although the situation has improved, in many ways the racial relations in Northern New Mexico still have a lot of room for improvement... and each culture here: Northern New Mexico Hispanic, Native American, Mexican immigrant and non-Hispanic White,  has an equal responsibility to reduce and eliminate cultural myopia.